Chapter 622 – Love’s Turmoil Market (2)

For the three years since Lee Si-heon departed,
Not one among us has been spared from the pangs of heartache.

Even those who pride themselves on leading in matters of love.
The waiting of Azalea was regarded with distinctive importance by Se-Young and the others.

─Alas, the agonizing wail.

At the sorrow-soaked and relief-drenched cry emanating from beyond the room, Marronnier shrinks back in apprehension. Se-Young quietly infuses magic into a soundproofing artifact, her thoughts brimming with empathy.

‘Our Azalea has borne much hardship.’

Se-Young, a businesswoman who knows the trials of child-rearing, understood the complexity of sustaining a corporation while raising a child as a widow.

Azalea had hung a portrait of Lee Si-heon on her dressing table, greeting it each day, never once revealing a moment of frailty.

‘After all, Si-heon was the first child he rescued.’

During Se-Young’s professorship at the academy, no student in her orbit was as emotionally volatile as Azalea.

‘That child met Si-heon. She met Shiba, grew stronger, and became more composed.’

The day, three years prior, when Lee Si-heon’s death was announced.
Azalea, having matured, received this news with the most dignity among the trio.

In other words, she burned with silent pain, confiding in no one.
Se-Young pondered earnestly.

‘She deserves happiness.’

Due to Azalea’s stoicism,
Se-Young and the others were able to regain their mental strength and move forward. Azalea’s resilience, despite her youth, was worth emulating, even for them.

Furthermore, this was a testament to the enduring bond between the three.

Blanche softly stroked Marronnier’s head, who was observing her, and murmured soothingly.

“……”
“It’s nothing major. She, too, was quite fond of Si-heon.”
“Is that so, sister…?”
“Yes. She’s also the one who raised Si-heon’s daughter.”
“…A daughter. I see.”

During the battle with the king, Marronnier saw Shiba and grasped the situation.
At the nod from Bam, Blanche slowly leaned in and stroked Marronnier’s hair.

The vanilla scent emanating from her hair was incredibly sweet.

“Hehe.”

Marronnier was uncomfortable with Blanche’s attentive gesture, but due to her keen awareness, she couldn’t voice her refusal.
Blanche glanced at Cornus, her eyes fluttering.

“…Cornus, it’s unfair.”
“?”
“If I could go back to the past, I….”

Marronnier couldn’t comprehend Cornus’s murmur.

Cornus, reminiscing about the old sprouts, gritted her teeth. Marronnier lowered her head, feeling isolated.
Blanche had a thought.

‘Indeed.’

Considering they were from the same academy, they must have their own circumstances.

‘…I must have been quite late, then.’

With that realization, her mood quickly dampened.
Marronnier’s thighs closed together, her posture naturally shifting to one of regret.

As the kitten rapidly succumbs to gloom, a wave of melancholy fills the room.

If he’s as adorable as this, every emotion is laid bare!
Startled, the star probed,

“Blanche?”
“Yes, Yes!?”
“Why the sudden shift?”
“Ah. Um, well….”

Would speaking the truth earn me disdain?
The sentiment, in truth, was barely distinguishable from envy or jealousy.

It symbolized the anxiety that Lee Si-heon may not reciprocate her love, and the very act of feeling hurt over such trivial matters, she believed, was indicative of mistrust.

Maronnier felt deeply embarrassed about her own emotions.

“…It seems like everyone is sharing fond memories.”
“Memories can be built over time.”
“That’s not it…. I apologize for feeling jealous. It’s wrong for lovers to be envious of each other. Everyone is just so beautiful… and alluring.”

Despite this,
Our innocent kitten cannot lie.

“…!”
“….”

The movements of Se-young and the star abruptly halted.
The reason why idols are idols, her innocent and distinguished words rocked even Se-young’s stoic heart.

“…She is truly adorable.”

Se-young, it seems, shares similar tastes to Lee Si-heon.
The excited star, unable to articulate her thoughts, merely chuckled.

“…No. No!! Aren’t we all a little jealous? Eh?”

Honestly, if one were to pinpoint the avatar of jealousy, no one could surpass the star, but Blanche is so pure that the star can’t even bring herself to utter words of envy.

“So, it’s not bad after all…?”
“What’s not okay about it! That’s the evidence of love! Right, Se-young?”

“Uh, um, yes.”

– A nod.

Upon Se-young’s nod, Maronnier twitched her drooping ears.

“Even so….”

Her jade-like skin, her personality, and her beauty are beyond question.
The point isn’t her charm, but her genuine innocence.
Even her voice was the greatest of all time (GOAT) among all the women that the star had ever encountered.

“I am truly envious!!”

The star resented her own inability to be born in such a manner.

* * * * * * * * * * *

When Azalea joined the group, silence descended once more.
No one could find the words to address Dal-lae, who still bore the marks of recent tears.

“I’m sorry, my sisters.”
“No, it’s okay. I was completely taken aback the moment I saw him.”

Dal-lae smiled awkwardly at Se-young’s words.
Azalea, having seen Lee Si-heon, began to grasp the essence of this gathering.

“So… the people gathered here.”
“Yes.”

Sansuyu. Blanche.
There are two individuals Dal-lae doesn’t recognize.

“Two….”

Two people in three years… that’s not too bad, is it?
Moreover, Sansuyu is an academy colleague whom Lee Si-heon saved at the risk of his own life.

Azalea had been saved by, and subsequently fell for, Lee Si-heon. It was only natural that Cornus would also be smitten.

‘That person…’

The quintessential French girl and a sage of our times, Marronnier Blanche.

Looks and voice aside, she remembered the subtle entanglement between them during the Forest Guardian competition.

‘It must have been then…’

Just as Azalea came to this realization, her eyes landed on Se-Young, who was slicing an apple.

“Are you not cutting too many fruits, sister?”
“No, we’re expecting more guests.”
“More?”

At Se-Young’s assertion, Azalea felt a sudden sting as she recalled the tears she had just shed.

More people? How many more?

“Well… I’ve invited about four more.”
“Four more-“

That’s a number that cannot be monopolized even by splitting the week into days!

They had only just reunited.
She had just recovered her long-awaited love. And now, she had to share him?

Seeing Azalea’s changing expression, Lee Se-Young touched her forehead, realizing something.

‘Come to think of it…’

Azalea was also prone to jealousy and possessiveness.
Se-Young sighed, vaguely thinking that reconciliation might take a bit more time.

She needed to pull herself together.
This was a critical moment.

One misstep could lead to the collapse of these delicate relationships. Jealousy and envy were natural for a woman sharing her lover, but being selfish and unyielding was a no-go.

This was why the reconciliation meeting was essential, a fact that Se-Young and Alba had agreed upon while planning this gathering.

‘It’s fortunate to have someone who shares the same perspective.’

Thankfully, Alba, who was oblivious to the internal dynamics, was also smitten with Lee Si-heon. Alba, with her superior intellect, could certainly monopolize Lee Si-heon if she so desired.

‘But she wouldn’t do that.’

Of course, it wasn’t just lovers who were invited.
They needed someone to mediate, and those arrangements had been made.

Knock, knock, knock.

The timely sound of a knock at the door.

“Star, could you get that?”
“Why should I?”
“Aren’t you going to answer it?”
“Ugh… Is being the first love all it takes?”

Star, who was cradling Marronnier, grumpily opened the door.

First love.
At that phrase, Blanche shivered.

“……”

Se-Young, under her scrutinizing gaze, asked Blanche as she continued to cut the fruit.

“Curious?”
“Oh, no! Well… Yes, actually.”

Blanche was not good at lying.

“Something like that did happen. I’ll tell you all about it later. And you’ll have to share your story as well.”
“For the sake of reconciliation? Still, talking about it is…”
“Blanche, it’s necessary.”

Blanche swallowed hard, overwhelmed by Se-Young’s gentle insistence. Her relaxed yet resolute demeanor was a stark contrast to the flustered Star, and Marronnier felt an inexplicable fondness for Lee Se-Young.

‘She’s amazing…’

*Thump.*

Enter the arrivals.

Marronnier came to her senses once more, placing her hand on her knee and bracing her waist.

The women who had followed in Star’s nimble steps exchanged glances and shared hollow smiles.

This was all due to Lee Si-heon’s machinations.
And here, these women must also bear the guilt of loving the same man.

“…Ah, are you all well? I could never have dreamed of such a gathering…”

Hong-Yeon, with a carrier brimming with liquor, offered a bashful smile.

“You must be our lord’s lovers. I appreciate your kindness.”

The World Tree of Healing, who had ravished the rapist horse with a power press.

“Ah, hello there! Teehee.”

‘I do not harbor feelings for Si-heon.’ Guseul, the assistant-to-be, chimed in.

“The king’s lovers! You’re all strikingly beautiful!”
“Indeed. Our elder brother is surely doomed.”
“……Ugh.”

Neutralizers and jurors, arbitrating truth, Tae-yang, Aori, and Ebony were present too.

Aside from Cheondo, who couldn’t leave the previous sage’s residence due to health issues, and Alba, who hadn’t arrived yet, everyone was gathered.

Mary was omitted, her mental age being too tender.
It was a decision made by Tae-yang, Lee Si-heon’s closest confidant.

Before taking a seat on the sofa, Mok Tae-yang approached Se-young and gave a light salute.

“I’ve done as you requested.”
“Ah, good. Well done.”
“Yes, loyalty.”

The king’s lovers also deserved their share of attention. Having fully understood this, Tae-yang and Aori offered a light greeting. In response to Se-young’s command, clothed in a raven coat, the two took their seats on the sofa, and Ebony, taking note of the atmosphere, also took a seat.

“…….”
“…….”
“…….”

The room was steeped in silence.
Star, Cornus, Hong-Yeon, Azalea, Marronnier, Se-young, and Healing exchanged fleeting looks.

“The former sage mentioned he might be a bit late. Who has something to say first?”
“……Damn it, me!”

Hanbyeol was the first to raise her hand.
Star’s finger was pointed towards Ebony.

“Everyone else, I understand, but her? She’s… far too young!”
“…….”
“Even if Si-heon is a damned son of a bitch who sold out his lover to the nation, still!”

Amidst the accusations of betraying one’s lover, which no one denied, everyone gathered here probably harbored the same thought.

Hong-Yeon dispelled the confusion.

“She is Ebony, the disciple of Do-won.”
“Do-won…?”
“Ah, I mean Si-heon.”
“Well, if that’s the case, I understand… Star, you’ve jumped the gun again.”

Hanbyeol’s energy faded and she retreated back to the sofa.
At this juncture, having cleared up the confusion, Se-young raised her voice.

“Of course, the man over there, the busty red little girl next to him, and the student in the suit, Guseul, they’re not lovers. Trust me.”
“…Then why?”
“To keep an eye on them. We need someone to restrain them.”

At Se-young’s words, Star fell silent.
Tae-yang skillfully raised his hand and began to speak.

“If it comes to matters of love and conflict, there’s always the possibility of trouble. My brother… he’s been fleeing till now. I’m aware he’s no saint, but we need to be informed of what we should.”
“……”
“The four of us are here as vassals. If any of you, who are now lovers, are deemed incompatible with our brother, I will sever ties from my end.”

The Sun’s incendiary proclamation.
Though he might not be capable of actualizing it, for now, he blares it out.

“What on earth are you blathering about!”

Byul-i, the president of the secretariat with the most inadequate abilities, wrathfully grabs the Sun’s neck.

“I’m honestly praying that our brother’s judgment isn’t flawed. If it’s genuine love, there won’t be an issue.”
“Rubbish! Who are you to adjudicate our love?”
“Well, I am the vassal he trusts most.”

It’s an impossible task, but it’s also sincere.
If anyone among them were seen as obstacles to Lee Si-heon, Tae-yang would go to any lengths to thwart their romance.

In the process, he might get beaten to death by Lee Si-heon.
It was the resolve a vassal should possess.

“Don’t jest!”

No one restrained the rampaging Byul-i.
They all remained silent, but undoubtedly, everyone harbored similar thoughts.

They had shared intimacies, whispered sweet nothings, made lifelong promises, and now a so-called vassal steps forward, declaring he would obstruct them. Naturally, eyes turned to Se-young, who had organized this gathering.

– Slurp.

Se-young quietly sipped her tea.
As Se-young, exuding an understated charisma, refrained from rebutting, the other women started to glance around.

Only the defiant concubine Byul-i could step up as their sword.

“I despise it. Why is my love being evaluated? I adore him immensely.”

The Sun and Byul-i glare at each other. Their smoldering gazes clashed and sparked.

Tae-yang recalled the story of Byul-i that he had heard from Lee Si-heon.
He raised a hand to cover his mouth and unleashed a brief laughter.

“Scared?”
“….”

That single word that stirs the heart of a gamer.
The Sun’s earnest voice punctured Byul-i’s heart.

“If I were to verify my loyalty right now, I would do so without hesitation. Whether the partner is a lover or anyone else. If my loyalty is found lacking, I will step down from this platform.”
“…Impressive. You play differently than your appearance suggests!”
“What will you do? Honestly, I can’t hold back our brother.”

When Byul-i fell silent, the women’s defenses crumbled.
What remains is the path of appraisal and unity.

“Aori, begin.”

At the Sun’s command, Aori, who had sprung from the sofa, bristled her hair.

“Mecha Aori Radar!”

Ebony, still clueless, looked around, while Gu-seul giggled and lounged on the sofa.
Despite the words, it boils down to one thing.

Can they fit in here? Or will they not blend like oil and water?

“Shall we start with introductions? It seems we don’t even know each other’s names.”

At the Sun’s signal, the first chapter of the reconciliation meeting began.